Programming Fundamentals 5
N9310A User’s Guide 91
Getting Started with SCPI
Programming with SCPI (Standard Command of
Programmable Instrument) requires following knowledges:
• Computer programming languages, such as C, C++, and
Microsoft®Visual Basic®.
• The language of your instrument. The N9310A employs
SCPI as its programming language.
The semantic requirements of your controller’s language
determine how the programming commands and responses
are handled in your application program.
An Introduction to the SCPI Language
SCPI is an ASCII- based instrument command language
designed for test and measurement instruments, with the
goal of reducing automatic test equipment (ATE) program
development time.
SCPI accomplishes this goal by providing a consistent
programming environment for instrument control and data
usage. This consistent programming environment is achieved
by the use of defined program messages, instrument
responses, and data formats across all SCPI instruments.
By providing a consistent programming environment,
replacing one SCPI instrument with another SCPI instrument
in a system will usually require less effort than with
non- SCPI instrument.
SCPI is not a standard which completely provides for
interchangeable instrumentation. SCPI helps move toward
interchangeability by defining instrument commands and
responses, but it does not define instrument functionality,
accuracy, resolution, connectors, etc.
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